Frequently asked questions

Charts > Calculation

Why
does my ascendant on astro.com differ from my ascendant calculated
by other astrologers?

Sometimes errors are made - the calculation could be wrong,
perhaps the wrong place or time zone were used. Please check
your data! With a given set of data, there can be no ambiguity.
The result you get at Astrodienst is correct. Our calculations
for astronomical facts are the most reliable in the whole
"industry". For further reference, please see the "Full
Documentation" of the Swiss
Ephemeris.

Is
the Ascendant in the Southern Hemisphere different from the one
in the Northern Hemisphere?

No. The point of the ecliptic rising in the east at any
given moment and given location is a fact of nature. There
is no room for opinion, it can only be computed right or
wrong. We do it right.
Check the placement of the Sun in the chart, it must be
sensibly placed relative to the horizon for the given time
of day. For a day birth, the Sun must be above the horizon.

Why do the
charts shown in AstroClick, for example, look different from the free
chart drawings?

Different astrologers use different sets of planets, aspects and orbs.
This is why depending on the astrologer, charts are different.
There is no uniform doctrine in astrology (just like it does not exist in
psychology, religion, medicine, art, politics and most other fields
which have to do with humans). Different practitioners work and believe
differently.

Which
orbs do you use when calculating planetary aspects?

Our standard chart type uses the orbs listed at the bottom
of the aspects
page in our Introduction
to Astrology.
Many of our chart types were designed especially for individual
astrologers, and the aspects are calculated with orbs according
to the preferences of these astrologers. Usually the chart
types are named after these astrologers, as you can see
in the Natal Chart Drawings
in our online shop. This page also lists the orbs used for
the calculation of aspects for Liz Greene's reports. Like
most astrologers, she has her own style of work and, naturally,
we respect this.

Why
is my Part of Fortune at astro.com different from other
calculations?

We use different formulae for Pars Fortunae for a day birth
than for a night birth. You can change this rule with an
option in the extended chart selection.
The day formula is: ASC + Moon - Sun
The night formula: ASC + Sun - Moon
Astrologers differ in their views about which formula to
use for Pars Fortunae.
If you're interested in in-depth information, please read
the article "The
Lot or Part of Fortune" by Robert Hand in our "Understanding
Astrology" section.

What
phase was the Moon in when I was born?

The phase of the Moon is represented by the angle between
the Sun and the Moon in your birth chart, starting at the
Sun, counter-clockwise. Zero degrees will be a new moon,
90 degrees a growing half moon, 180 degrees a full moon,
etc. You can consult your chart drawing to measure the difference.
If you find this too difficult, please use the 'Lunar Phases
Fertility Calendar' (under the group 'Astrodienst Special'). It gives
the Phase of the Moon already computed,
as a value between 0° and 359°.

As one of the largest astrology portals WWW.ASTRO.COM offers a lot of free features on the subject. With high-quality horoscope interpretations by the world's leading astrologers Liz Greene, Robert Hand and other authors, many free horoscopes and extensive information on astrology for beginners and professionals, www.astro.com is the first address for astrology on the web.